Duplicating machine



Sept. 26, 1939. F. R. FORD 2,174,208

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mamemlci znl Sept. 26, 1939. F. R. FORD 2,174,208

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed lay 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiQZ.

7AM Rm 7 Sept. 26, 1939. F. R. FORD I DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "'uunn" VIM/ Rm/47 5: W AHwntys;

Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUPLICATING MACHINE- Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 271,417 In Great Britain March 4, 1938 15 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines in which a copy sheet and a master sheet bearing in reversed script the matter to be reproduced are passed in pressure contact between. a cylinder which carries the master sheet and a pressure roller, said copy sheet being moistened before being brought into contact with the master sheet.

More particularly the invention has reference to the type of duplicating machine in which provision is made for moistening the copy sheets sectionally, so that when a master sheet is secured to the cylinder with the lines of writing thereon extending circumferentially of the latter, the matter reproduced on the copy sheet may be confined to one, two or any other selected number of such lines.

In my United States Letters Patent No. 2,149,012, I have shown and described a machine oi the above type, in which the pressure roller is of sectional construction, the sections of the roller being separately adjustable along the length of a shaft upon which they are mounted,

so that they can be brought into position to exert pressure along any pre-selected narrow strip of the copy sheet upon which matter is to be reproduced.

The pressure roller has not only to provide the pressure for producing the copies, but it also has to act, in conjunction with the cylinder, as

a driving means for drawing the copy sheets through the machine, and it has been found that, when reproduction is only being effected along a single strip which is substantially offset from the centre-line of the copy sheet, there is a tendency for the single pressure roller section in operation to skew the copy sheet during its passage through the machine; that is to say, the leading edge of the copy sheet fails to remain in parallel relationship to the cylinder axis. This is particularly the case when the pressure roller section is acting close to one edge of the copy sheet.

In order to overcome this defect, two or more of the sections of the pressure roller may be brought into operation, one or more sections acting both as drivers and for producing copies, and another section or sections operating as drivers only. With this arrangement, however,

the pressure of the, or each, purely driving section of the roller is liable to cause the unmoistened strip of copy sheet on which it acts to pick up a certain amount of ink from the master sheet. The ink thus picked up is virtually invisible, so long as this strip of copy sheet remains dry, but if the same copy sheet should be used again so that this particular strip thereof is moistened, then it is found that the ink picked up at the original operation becomes visible, and in some cases this interferes with the reproduction which is being effected at the second or subsequent operation.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these difiiculties.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. section side elevation of one form of duplicating machine in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, with a part broken away for the sake of clearness', and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the construction illustrated, the apparatus comprises spaced side members 5 secured together by tie-rods 8 and having mounted between them a transversely disposed impression cylinder l which is provided with a clamping device t for engagement with the leading edge of a master sheet 9 bearing in reversed or mirror script the matter to be reproduced. The clamping device may be constructed as described and shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,048,543.

The spindle l0 associated with the cylinder i may be rotated, through spur gears ll, l2, it by means of a hand crank 14 as shown, or it may be operated by power means such as those shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 210,031, filed May 25, 1938.

After the master sheet 0 has been secured to the cylinder 1, the latter is caused to rotate and a copy sheet (indicated at I) may be fed into the machine down an inclined tray 56, the leading edge of the sheet it being passed beneath the roller I! of a moistening device and engaged in the nip between the cylinder l and a driving roller it which presses against the upper part of the latter, so that the sheet i5 is drawn through the machine by the co-operation of the roller it with the rotating cylinder '1.

The moistening device aforesaid is preferably constructed in accordance with my Patent No. 2,048,543, the roller I! being carried by the ends of levers l9 which may be independently loaded by means of adjustable torsion springs. The levers !9 are periodically raised by cams 26 on the cylinder l to allow insertion of a copy sheet I 5 beneath the roller 1 l as above described, afterwards descending so that the roller ll presses said sheet against a stationary moistening member H.

- 1; the tank 23.

The moistening member 2| has a width substantially equal to the length of the cylinder 1 and takes the form of an absorbent pad supported by a carrier 22 which extends transversely of the machine adjacent the cylinder surface, said carrier being attached to a tank 23 holding a moistening fluid which is fed to the pad by wicks 24.

When it is desired to reproduce only one, two

,- or any other selected number of lines of the matter on the master sheet 9, the latter is engaged in the clamping device 8 in such a way that the lines in question extend circumferentially of the cylinder 1.

In order that only the selected parts of the matter on the master sheet 9 shall be reproduced, means are provided for confining the moistening of the copy sheet to that strip, or those strips, of the latter which will come into contact with the selected matter aforesaid.

Convenient means for this purpose are described in my Patent No. 2,149,012 aforesaid and comprise a shield mounted above the operative surface of the pad 2|, such shield being constructed in a plurality of sections 25 which are movable individually to cover or uncover any desired part of the pad 2|. The sections 25 take the form of parallel-sided strips of metal or other suitable material disposed side by side and each adapted for sliding movement, in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the copy sheet l5. These strips may be supported partly upon the moistening pad 2| and partly upon a plate 26 which forms the lid of The width of each strip may be substantially equal to the pitch or spacing of the lines on the master sheet 9, and collectively the strips may cooperate with the whole of that portion of the pad 2| which is left exposed by the plate 26.

The shield sections 25, or the parts thereof nearest the cylinder 1, are very thin, so that, when some of the sections have been retracted to expose the moistening pad 2|, the unretracted sections will not prevent the copy sheet l5 from making proper contact with the uncovered portions of the pad 2|.

Each of the shield sections 25 may be operable, in a direction to uncover the pad 2|, by means of a finger piece 21 mounted above the copy sheet driving roller I! in a manner hereinafter described, the various finger pieces 21 may be arranged in a row transversely of the machine, an alternate one being bent forwardly as at 28 to facilitate their manipulation.

Each finger piece 21 has secured thereto at 29 one end of a Bowden cable 38, the sheath 3| of which is positioned at this end in a crossbar 32 connecting upward extensions 33 of the side members 5 of the machine. The other end of the cable 30 is connected to a block 34 carried by a rod 35 which extends forwardly from the associated shield section 25, this rod 35 being slidably guided in transversely disposed parts 36 of a frame 31 secured to the top of the tank 23.

Another transverse member 38 of the frame 31 provides a stop for the adjacent end of the cable sheath 3| and the associated shield section 25 is biassed into a position above the moistening pad 2| by means of a compression spring 39 interposed between the member 38 and the block 34, Some of the cables 30 may be led around each front corner of the machine and each group of cables may be enclosed in a tube 48.

To obviate risk of the shield sections 25 tilting laterally during operation, the block 34 associated with each cable 38 may carry a screw 4| which engages a slot 42 in a plate 43 secured to the frame 31 aforesaid.

Preferably the moistening of the copy sheet l5 5 is not effected over the whole area of that strip,

or those strips, thereof which pass over the uncovered part or parts of the pad 2|, but is confined to the medial portion of the or each such strip which will cooperate with the actual line of writing to be reproduced.

To provide for this, the moistening roller I! The roller 8 which, in conjunction with the cylinder 1, acts as a driving means for the copy sheet l5, may be made or covered with rubber or similar material, and the surface of the lat ter may be relieved at spaced positions along the central part of the roller. cumferential ribs or flanges 45 may be similar to the ribs 44 on the moistening roller I1 and the spacing of the ribs may be similar in the two cases, but the ribs 45 on the roller |8 are arranged so as to engage the copy sheet I5 at those parts thereof which will subsequently lie between the lines of writing on the master sheet 9; that is to say, the ribs 45 are staggered in relation to the ribs 44.

The resultant cir- It is not essential for the ribs 45 on the roller Hi to engage the copy sheet 5 at every part thereof on which matter is not to be reproduced,

it being sufiicient if they are arranged, say, at every fourth of the strips which will lie between the lines of copied matter.

The driving roller |8 may be mounted in bear- Behind and parallel to the driving roller I8 50 aforesaid is a pressure roller comprising a plurality of roller sections 48, which may be equal in number and width to the circumferential ribs 44 on the moistening roller I1 and similarly staggered in relation to the ribs of the roller I8. 55

Each of the roller sections 48 may have a peripheral surface of rubber or other resilient material and is adjustable independently of the others in a direction towards or away from the axis of the cylinder 1. the roller section 48 is clear of the cylinder 1, whilst in the other extreme position it exerts a resilient pressure on the surface of the cylinder or the master sheet 9 thereon.

In one extreme position The various sections 48 of the pressure roller 5 may be carried by a stationary bar 49 of substantial section which extends parallel to the cylinder axis and is secured at its ends to the upward extensions 33 of the side members 5.

Each roller section 48 is mounted in a fork 7 50 at the lower end of a plunger 5|, which is free to slide up and down in one of a series of spaced holes 52 drilled transversely through the bar 49 aforesaid.

Above the bearing portion of the plunger 5| 15 the latter is provided with across-pin 53 on which rests a helical compression spring 54 embracing the plunger and cooperating with the underside of one arm of a rocking lever 55 mounted above the bar 49 for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to that of the cylinder 1.

The arm of the rocking lever 55 on which the spring acts is slotted longitudinally or forked as at 56 to allow the plunger to pass through it, the free end of the plunger being screwthreaded and carrying a nut 57 which adjustably engages the upper face of the lever 55.

A light tension spring 58 connected to a cross member 59 acts upwardly on the free end of the plunger 5|, so that the latter is retained in its upper position, with the compression spring 54 thereon engaging the lever 55 and the roller section 48 clear of the cylinder surface. This is the inoperative position of the roller section 48 in question, and under such conditions the shoulder 60 above the fork 50 on the plunger 5| engages theunderside of the bar 49, there being little or no stress in the compression spring 54.

When it is desired to move a given roller section 48 into its operative position the forked or slotted arm of the associated rocking lever 55 is depressed by forcing upwardly the other arm of the latter. This second arm of the lever 55, which may be relatively short, has mounted thereon one of the finger pieces 21 connected to the shield sections 25, a light, substantially horizontal pressure on such finger piece sufficing to effect the requisite movement of the lever 55, whereby the associated roller section 48 is moved into its effective position and the appropriate portion of the pad 2| is simultaneously uncovcred.

The various rocking levers 55 may be mounted on a common pivot pin 6! extending longitudinally through a plate 62 secured to one side of the fixed bar 49, the upper edge of such plate being slotted at intervals transversely of the pivot pin. 6| to receive the levers 55.

The aforesaid movement of the lever 55 under consideration first stresses the light spring 58 supporting the slotted or'forked arm of the lever 55, so that the roller section 48 drops into contact with the cylinder 1, and finally the spring 54 acting on the plunger 5| is compressed between the lever 55 and the cross-pin 53 above the bearing portion of the plunger 5|. The roller section 48 is then exerting a resilient pressure on the surface of the cylinder 1 or the master sheet 9 thereon.

For retaining the roller sections 48 in their operative positions, the transverse bar 49 is provided with a plurality of pivoted catches 63, one for each rocking lever 55. These catches 63 may be pivoted in slots in the upper edge of a plate 64 secured to the side of the transverse bar 49 remote from the plate 62 to which the rocking levers 55 are pivoted, and a common pivot pin 65 may extend transversely of the various slots in the plate 64.

It will be understood, of course, that the rocking levers 55 and catches 63 may, if desired, be mounted in lugs formed integrally with the transverse bar 49.

Each of the catches 63 has a cam surface 66 which co-operates with a cross-pin 61 in the slot or fork 56 in the adjacent arm of the rocking lever 55, such pin 61, when the lever 55 has been moved to press the associated roller section 48 against the cylinder 1, engaging beneath a shoul- -position whereby a moistened copy sheet der 68 at the lower end of the cam surface 66. A blade or other spring 69 acts on the catch 63 so as to hold the latter in engagement with the pin 61.

The forked ends 56 of the plungers 5| may be of square section and one face of each fork 59 may co-operate with a shoulder extending longitudinally of the underside of the transverse bar 49, for the purpose of resisting any side thrust to which the plungers 5| may be subjected when the associated roller sections 48 are in engagement with the cylinder 1.

The machine may be provided with a shaft 1| Which extends parallel to the transverse bar 49 and carries a cam 12 or cams which is or are heldby a spring 80 in engagement with the upper ends of the catches 63, the arrangement being such that rotation of this shaft H by means of a lever 13 effects release of all the catches 63 which are in operation to retain certain roller sections 48 in the operative position.

The shaft may be journalled in spaced brackets 14 carried by the bar '49, and these brackets may serve to support a parallel shaft carrying an operating lever 16 and a cam 1'! or cams which is or are held, by means of the spring 18, in engagement with upward projections 19 on the rocking levers 55. Oscillation of the lever 16 enables all the roller sections 48 to be brought into pressure contact with the cylinder when it is desired to operate upon the full width of the copy sheet l5.

The tray 6 down which the copy sheets I5 are fed may be considerably narrower than the moistening pad 2| and means, such as those described and shown in my Patent No. 2,149,012, may be provided for adjusting such tray transversely of the machine.

By making use of the present invention, the drive for the copy sheets I5 is independent of the pressure employed for effecting reproduction thereon, so that the copy sheets will be driven through the machine without any risk of their leading edges becoming out of parallelism with the cylinder axis. Furthermore, only those pressure roller sections 48 which are actually required for effecting reproduction are in operation, so that the copy paper will not be liable to pick up ink from the master sheet 9 at positions where no reproduction is taking place.

What I claim then is:

l. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, means for moving said pressure rollers individually into an operative is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageab-le by said pres Sure rollers.

2. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, a plurality of plungers each carrying one of said pressure rollers, a fixed support in which said plungers are mounted for sliding movement towards or away from said cylinder, means for moving said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

3. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, springs normally biassing said pressure rollers to an inoperative position clear of said cylinder, a plurality of plungers each carrying one of said pressure rollers, a fixed support in which said plungers are mounted for sliding movement towards or away from said cylinder, shoulders on said plungers cooperating with said fixed support to define the inoperative position of said pressure rollers, means for moving said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

4. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, springs normally biassing said pressure rollers to an inoperative position clear of said cylinder, a plurality of plungers each carrying one of said pressure rollers, a fixed support in which said plungers are mounted for sliding movement towards or away from said cylinder, shoulders on said plunger-s cooperating with said fixed support to define the inoperative position of said pressure rollers, levers cooperating with projections on said plungcrs and movable to displace said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

5. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, springs normally biassing said pressure rollers to an inoperative position clear of said cylinder, a plurality of plungers each carrying one of said pressure rollers, a fixed support in which said plungers are mounted for sliding movement towards or away from said cylinder, shoulders on said plungers cooperating with said fixed support to define the inoperative position of said pressure rollers, compression springs engaging projections on said plungers, and levers adapted to act on said plungers through said compression springs in a manner to displace said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

6. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, levers operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, a moistening pad, a member for pressing copy sheets against said pad before they reach said pressure rollers, a shield placed over said pad and consisting of a plurality of individually retractable sections, means connecting said levers to said shield sections whereby movement of a given pressure roller into the operative position causes uncovering of that portion of said pad over which passes the strip of said copy sheet destined for engagement by said pressure roller and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

'7. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, rocking levers each having an arm thereof connected to one of said pressure rollers and operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, a moistening pad, a member for pressing copy sheets against said pad before they reach said pressure rollers, a shield placed over said pad and consisting of a plurality of individually retractable sections, sheathed cables connecting the other arm of each lever to one of said shield sections whereby movement of a given pressure roller into the operative position causes uncovering of that portion of said pad over which passes the strip of said copy sheet destined for engagement by said pressure roller and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

8. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, means for moving said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, catches adapted to retain said pressure rollers automatically in their operative positions and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

9. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, levers operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, an abutment on each of said levers, a catch spring biassed into a position such that a cam surface thereon is engaged by said abutment when said lever is operated to move the associated pressure roller into the operative position, a shoulder on said catch adapted to engage behind said abutment after the latter has ridden over said cam surface, said pressure roller being thereby retained in its operative position and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

10. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, means for moving said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, catches adapted to retain said pressure rollers automatically in their operative positions, an oscillatable shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted upon oscillation of the latter to cooperate with said catches and thereby to effect release of any of said roller sections which have been retained in an operative position and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

11. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, levers operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, catches cooperating with said levers in a manner to retain said pressure rollers automatically in their operative positions after movement thereto by said levers, an oscillatable shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted upon oscillation of the latter to cooperate With said catches and thereby to effect release of any of said roller sections which have been retained in an operative position, and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

12. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, levers operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, an oscillatable shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted upon oscillation of the latter to cooperate with said levers and thereby to move into contact with said cylinder any of said levers which may be in an inoperative position and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

13. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, levers operable to move said pressure rollers individually into an operative position whereby a copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected strips of said master sheet, an oscillatable shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted upon oscillation of the latter to cooperate with said catches and thereby to effect release of any of said roller sections which have been retained in an operative position, a second oscillatable shaft, a cam on. said second shaft adapted upon oscillation of the latter to move into contact with said cylinder any of said levers which may be in an inoperative position and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

14. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto with the lines of script on said master sheet extending circumferentially of said cylinder, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollers adapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, means for moving said pressure rpllers into an operative position whereby a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected scriptbearing strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder at a position in advance of said pressure rollers and adapted to engage said copy sheet along strips thereof which are not engageable by said pressure rollers.

15. A duplicating machine comprising a rotatable cylinder having means for attaching a master sheet thereto with the lines of script on said master sheet extending circumferentially of said cylinder, a plurality of relatively narrow pressure rollersadapted for cooperation with said cylinder, but normally disposed in an inoperative position clear of the same, means for moving said pressure rollers into an operative position whereby .a moistened copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with one or more selected scriptbearing strips of said master sheet and a driving roller permanently cooperating with said cylinder and adapted to engage said copy sheet in such a manner that said copy sheet is brought into pressure contact with said master sheet at positions intermediate the script-bearing strips of the latter.

FRANK RONALD FORD. 

